The TSX held above water on strength in banking, with Royal
Bank of Canada RY.TO up 1.7 percent at C$51.25, and Bank of
Montreal BMO.TO higher by 1.3 percent at C$58.33. National
Bank of Canada NA.TO climbed 2 percent to C$61.22.

The broader financials group, up 0.5 percent, led the way
higher as investors bought beaten-down shares, which had fallen
in recent weeks the back of concerns about the global recovery.
More recently, some bank issues tumbled after reporting weak
trading results, said Rick Meslin, head of Canadian equities at
UBS.

"People are a little constructive now, suggesting that
future quarters might have some big ticket items, that the poor
performance of trading revenue probably isn't going to be much
of a factor in the next quarter," said Meslin.

However, Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO and Bank of Nova
Scotia BNS.TO, both to report results this week, slipped by
about 0.2 percent.
Continued...